Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces insomnia in nurses with shift work disorder: a randomized controlled pilot trial

Registration: PMCID: PMC11596998

Status: Published

Tags: Anxiety, CBT-I, Circadian, Clinical trial, Depression, Digital health, Digital therapeutics, Fatigue & alertness, Health outcomes, Healthcare workers, Hospital, Insomnia, Mental health, Night-shift workers, Nurses, Practical, RCT, Real-world, Recovery, Rotating shift workers, Shift work, Shift Work Disorder (SWD), Sleep, Sleep hygiene, SWD, Wearables & digital health, Well-being / Quality of life, Work ability

External URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11596998/

Summary

This randomized pilot trial tested a guided digital CBT-I program adapted for shift work (“SleepCare”) in 46 nurses with shift-work disorder and insomnia. Compared with a waitlist control, the program produced a clinically meaningful drop in insomnia severity (primary outcome; β = −4.73; p<.001). Participants also reported improvements in daytime sleepiness, unhelpful sleep beliefs, cognitive arousal, and diary-based sleep (better sleep efficiency and faster sleep onset), plus lower depression/anxiety and better work ability; however, objective sleep (actigraphy) did not significantly change. Benefits in the treatment group were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Engagement and satisfaction were high.

Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls

Insomnia is common in shift work, and getting to a clinic can be hard. In this study of nurses with shift-work disorder and insomnia, a guided, shift-adapted digital CBT-I reduced insomnia symptoms and improved several related measures—without relying on medication. While objective sleep didn’t change and the study was small, it shows a practical, accessible option workers can use around rotating schedules to tackle insomnia and feel better day-to-day.

Notes

Open access.

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